A French Louis XV ormolu ‘cartel d’alcove’, wall clock, Etienne Dechamp Paris, circa 1750

Description

The dial

The 14-cm wide enamel dial has Roman numerals for the hours and Arabic five-minute marking. Signed in the centre Et. Dechamp A Paris. The foliate pierced and engraved hands are made of gilt brass.

The movement

The movement is driven by a spring barrel and has a duration of fourteen days. It is regulated by anchor escapement in combination with a silk suspended pendulum. The clock has pull wind quarter repeating on two bells.

The ormolu case

The fire-gilt bronze case is surmounted by a pierced arched arcade with a garland with flowers. It has upward scrolling flowers to both sides with in between paterae trellis over a red ground. The leaves terminate in strong curling leaves and scrolls terminating in branches and flowers.